William steamach lockhart



(Nomudel.) l`

W. S. LOGKHART.

ORE SEPARATOR.

N0.`500,662. Patented July 4, 1893.

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' WMM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM STRONAOH LOOKHART, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC GEM AND GOLD SEPARATOR SYNDICATE, LIMITED, OF SAME PLACE.

ORE-SEPARATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,662, dated July 4, 1893. Application tiled February I, 1893. Serial No. 460,586. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM STEONACII LOCKHART, residing at London, England, have invented Improvements in Ore-Separators, of

which the following is a specification.

The present invention is an improvement upon that shown in Letters Patent of the United States, granted to Lockhart and Stleeter January l0, 1893, No. 489,538.

My invention relates to improvements in wet upward current separators for effecting the separation of metals, ores, gems or other minerals from their gangue or slimes according to their specific gravities by means of a current of Water or other iiuid and consists in the construction of an apparatus whereby such an upward flowing current of water or other liquid is capable of precise regulation and control as to its steadiness and velocity zo for the purpose of eecting the said separation in a more reliable and positive manner than has hitherto been done.

In order that my invention maybe the better understood I will now proceed to describe 2 5 one form of my apparatus in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed reference being had to the letters marked thereon.

Figure l is a vertical section of one form of my liquid gem or mineral separator. Fig. 2 3o is a detail View of the locked receiving chamber on a smaller scale, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the adjustable hopper.

I employ a stream of liquid or water supplied at a constant head from any conven- 3 5 ient source and cause the said liquid to enter the separator by the pipe a controlled by a cock d. The said water enters the lower part of the stand pipe b through an orifice without sharp corners and protected by a 4o mantle b which so diverts and spreads the stream that it shall ascend the annular chamber h of the stand pipe with a constant and uniform stream avoiding eddies or variations of current, by the accurate and uniform sectional area of the annular passage d through which it fiows. The material which has been previously classified enters the separator by gravity through the feed hopper c, which is provided with a suitable grid c2. The mineral material as it descends falls upon or about the conoid CZ and is thus checked and discharged with the least possible momentum outward through the annular passage d into the upward iiowing stream at right angles io its course. The heavier particles such as metals or precious stones fall gradually through the upward owing stream and are received into the lockedfreceptacle e which is provided with a door f by which the gems or heavy minerals may be removed from time to time. The lighter particles such as sand or gravel being buoyed up by the upward flowing stream are carried by it over the Siphon discharge-outlet or outlets g, the stream being still controlled so that it is solid and unbroken to prevent the collection or return of the lighter particles.

The outlets g may be controlled by cocks or valves g fand terminate in nozzles g2 to which may be added if desired flexible tubes g3 dotted lines Fig. l, adjusted at any desired height to vary the length of the discharge end of the siphon outlets.

In order that the receptacle e may be cleared without stopping the action of the machine I insert a valve h operated by a screw-threaded spindle h so that it can be closed on a seating h2 to cut off the receptacle e from the flowing stream and body of the apparatus.

The outer wall of the annular tube b may be of glass so that the internal action of the machine at the point of separation may be seen from the outside.

Where it is desired that a considerable flow of liquid should accompany the material into the hopper c as in the case of slimes carrying finely comminuted minerals, the feed hopper is then made adjustable, as in Fig. 3, with a screw threaded neck 7o entering a deep screw threaded gland Zafixed to the separator cover gx. The lip of the hopper, forming an easy ovcriow for the liquid, is set at the preoise height at which the Water will stand in the said hopper under normal conditions of working.

ried into the hopper by a further inflowing stream, will pass into the machine by gravity,

Thus, while the solid material, carv the water or other liquid escapes around the baffled edge of the hopper into the escape trough c. l

The operation before described may be reversed and the valuable products it' lighter than the gangue are then carried over and the particles of the gangue deposited.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination in ahydraulic separating apparatus the internal tube connected with a hopper, the conoidal distributer arranged opposite the discharge opening of said pipe and forming therewith an annular discharge channel to direct the minerals laterally from the center toward the sides of the casing, the said tube being arranged to leave an annular passage of uniform sectional area about it, a liquid supply pipe connecting with the outer annular passage said passage having an annular discharge opening, means for controlling the liquid supply and the collecting chamber, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a hydraulic separating apparatus an internal tube receiving from hopper a gravity feed of minerals, a lateral annular orifice, conoidal distributer, an exterior vertical annular passage, and an inlet for the liquid supply of curved form and with reverse mantle and control coils to steady the incoming stream substantially as described.

3. In combination in a hydraulic separating apparatus an internal tube receiving gravity feed of mineral mixed with liquid, an adjustable hopper connected thereto by screw threaded stem and gland, provided with an overow lip and trough, an axial conoidal distributer, a lateral discharge orifice, and an eX- terior vertical annular passage admitting an upward controlled owing stream of liquid, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM STRONACH LOCKHART.

Witnesses:

RICHARD A. HOFFMANN, CHARLES H. CARTER. 

